After the welcoming banquetended, GawainnotimmediatelyandVictoriaorVeronicabegin the follow-upcontact, buttotheseguestsin„autumnpalace”rest, orreceptionpersonnel that followsheto arrangevisitssomeplaces, the reason that hegivesisto hope the guestscanunderstandas far as possiblethislands, andrestedinthese dayswell, toalleviatesomade a long and wearisome journeyaccumulateexhaustedly- withthiswarrant, hedried in the sunthreedays the guests.
在欢迎宴会结束之后,高文没有立刻和维多利亚或者维罗妮卡展开后续接触,而是任由这些客人在“秋宫”休息,或者跟着他安排的接待人员去参观一些地方,他给出的理由是希望客人们能够尽可能地了解这片土地,并在这几天好好休息,以缓解如此长途跋涉所积累的疲惫-用这个正当理由,他把客人们晾了三天。Victoriahas not wastedthesethreedays of time, inthesethreedays, sheunderstoodCecil'sallwith utmost effort, frompeople's dailylife styletofragmentaryintelligence of Cecilarmy, frommarketcommoditytoperipheralproduct- the channel that althoughcancontactis limited, shehas not let offanyhelpsherunderstandthislands the opportunity.维多利亚没有浪费这三天时间,在这三天里,她尽一切可能去了解了塞西尔的一切,从人们日常的生活方式到塞西尔军队的零星情报,从市场商品到周边物产-尽管能接触的渠道有限,她还是没有放过任何有助于她了解这片土地的机会。Untilfourthday, shewaited till the Gawain'snewsfinally.
直到第四天,她终于等到了高文的消息。In the Feudal Lord Mansionstudy room, Victoria Wildesitsonsinglesofa that inprovidesfor the guestspecially, shesizes upinthisordinary daycuriously the place of Gawainwork, the line of sighthas been sweepingthesefullbookshelvesandarmorfor decorative purpose, finallyfallson a giantmap: Thatmapis hangingonone sidewall, betweentwobookshelves, itsaboveis describingAinzthroughout, evendrew upportionGondor Wastelandas well asTyphon, Sacred Dragon Duchy and Augari Tribe Kingdomland, itisVictoriahas seensince birthfinest and most carefulmap, onthatnot onlylabelledallmountainsriversaccurate, evenis also labellingdigit that is used indescribing the distancemassively......领主府的书房中,维多利亚?维尔德坐在专为客人提供的单只沙发上,她略带好奇地打量着这个平日里高文办公的地方,视线扫过那些满满的书架和装饰用的盔甲,最后落在一幅巨大的地图上:那地图悬挂在一侧墙壁上,两座书架之间,它上面描绘着安苏全境,甚至绘制了一部分刚铎废土以及提丰、圣龙公国、奥古雷部族国的土地,它是维多利亚有生以来所见过的最精美、最细致的地图,那上面不但精准地标注了所有的山川河流,甚至还标注着大量用于描述距离的数字……Feudal Lordis hanging the map is not unusualin the study room, butis hanging the soaccuratemap is not easy, the line of sight of Duchessfallsnear the center of map, andstoppedat some point of Holy Spirit Plaineastern area.领主在书房中悬挂地图并不稀奇,但悬挂如此精准的地图就不容易了,女公爵的视线落在地图的中心附近,并在圣灵平原东部地区的某个点停了下来。Sheseesnearby the giant treeroad junctionto label a strikingredfork, by the redforkhas the partypostil: Ainz736, Month of Harvest on the 43 rd.
她看到巨木道口附近标注着一个醒目的红叉,红叉旁有一行批注:安苏736,丰收之月43日。Thatis before the beginning of winter , the Eastern Regionrebel army and date of the kingdom's armylast timelarge-scalebattle, the time and placeare exactly right.
那是入冬之前东境叛军和王国军最后一次大规模交战的日期,时间和地点分毫不差。„As if interestedinmymapvery much? girl of Wilde?”
“似乎对我的地图很感兴趣?维尔德家的姑娘?”
The Gawain'ssoundconveysfromsidesuddenly, awakensfrom the shortthinkingVictoria, shenoticed that Founding Grand Dukeenters the room, andsitsbyheronanothersofa.高文的声音突然从旁传来,将维多利亚从短暂的思索中惊醒,她看到那位开国大公走进房间,并坐在她旁边的另一只沙发上。„Betty, prepares the snack, delivers to the study room, after”takes a seat, Gawaintostandingsmallmaidneargatebeckons, latershifts toVictoria, „hopes that Ihave not delayedtoofor a long time- new student/lifeduchyalwayslot of work.”
“贝蒂,准备茶点,送到书房,”落座之后,高文对站在门边的小女仆招了招手,随后又转向维多利亚,“希望我没耽搁太长时间-新生的公国总是事务繁忙。”„Naturally, Icanimagine that youevery daybusy,”Victoriaraises slightlyto salutetoGawainslightly, although with protectDuke, but the vastgap in rankletsher, even ifin the non-officialsituationmust the attentionetiquette, thensheraised the headlike thisfrequentlyagain, lookstothatgiantmap, „...... youhave very outstandingcartographer, moreover do youas ifalsowatch the situation outside Southern Regionvery much?”
“当然,我能想象到您每日有多忙碌,”维多利亚微微欠身对高文行礼,尽管同为守护公爵,但辈分上的巨大差距还是让她哪怕在这样非正式的场合下都必须时刻注意礼仪,接着她再次抬起头,看向那幅巨大的地图,“……您有非常优秀的制图师,而且您似乎也很关注南境之外的局势?”„Cecilianwantsto have the peacefullife, butoutsideworldsuch aswewill not hopelike thatpeaceful- has wanted the steadfastness, mustwatch the exteriorsituationmuch,”Gawainsmiles, „, moreover don't youverycare aboutheresituation?”
“塞西尔人希望过太平日子,但外面的世界可不会如我们所愿的那般太平-想要过的踏实,就得多多关注外部的局势,”高文笑了笑,“而且你不是也挺关心这里的情况么?”
The members of diplomatic envoytake a walkin the city, such publicmatternaturallycannot conceal the truth, Victoriahas not plannedto cover upfrom the start, herslightly nodded of: „Thislands are very to us mystical, since the autumn, entireSouthern Regionwas equivalenttoRoyal Capitalhiddenin the dense fog, thiswas certainly curious.”
使节团的成员在城里走动,这样公开的事情当然是瞒不住的,维多利亚也压根没打算遮掩,她只是微微点了点头:“这片土地对我们而言很神秘,自从秋天开始,整个南境对王都而言就相当于隐藏在迷雾中了,这当然令人好奇。”SmallmaidBettycarried the snack, andstartedto fill the teafor the guests, butwhilethisopportunity, Victoriashifted to the direction that the topiconeselfpaid attention tostraightforwardly: „Duke Cecil, how do youseetoAinzthiscivil war?”
小女仆贝蒂端来了茶点,并开始为客人们斟满茶水,而趁着这个机会,维多利亚直截了当地把话题转向了自己关注的方向:“塞西尔公爵,您对安苏这场内战怎么看?”Gawainis maintaining the smile, looks atVictoriasaidat a moderate pace: „Inoticedvery muchregrettablypast the later generation of good friendwill makeuntil nowthisaspectunexpectedly, but ifyouwantto ask that whomIsupportinthiscivil war- I can only say,Ino onesupports.”高文保持着微笑,看着维多利亚不紧不慢地说道:“我很遗憾看到昔日好友的后人竟会闹到如今这个局面,但如果你是想问我在这场内战中支持谁-那我只能说,我谁也不支持。”Thiswas it can be said that expected that reply, the Victoriaexpressionis invariable, butcontinues saying: „Waris notweshoulders, inSilver Castleno onewantsAinzto split, rebels since Eastern Regionsuddenly, we have been very passive.”
这可以说是预料之中的回答,维多利亚表情不变,只是继续说道:“战争不是我们挑起的,白银堡中没有人希望安苏分裂,从东境突然叛乱至今,我们一直很被动。”„, ‚Ishand that hefirstmoves’- listened toHetty saying that alsoRebeccaafter the personfoughtoftencomplainedin childhood,”Gawainraised the hand, „youknow, before the beginning of winter, Rebeccaalsobecausefrequentlycaused troublebymeis taught, thereforeyoureallyshouldrejoice,rejoicedCharlie, Snow, AnthonyalsohasEvanstheynot to come backwithmetogether, otherwiseyoumustworrynot onlythiscivil wargirl , can youwhen the time comeswithSnow? Wildesaid that isAnthony? LorenandCharlie? Hand that the child of Mowenfirstmoves?”
“啊,‘是他先动的手’-听赫蒂说瑞贝卡小时候跟人打架之后也经常这么告状,”高文扬起手,“你知道么,直到入冬之前,瑞贝卡还经常因为闯祸被我教训,所以你们真应该庆幸,庆幸查理,斯诺,安东尼还有埃文斯他们没有跟我一起回来,否则你们要发愁的就不只是这场内战了-维尔德家的姑娘,你到时候要跟斯诺?维尔德解释说是安东尼?罗伦和查理?摩恩家的孩子先动的手么?”Victoriaprepares the goodallexplanations and negotiationsscriptsahead of timebecomes completely useless.维多利亚提前准备好的一切解释和谈判剧本全部失效。Shehas about 20yearsnot to exchangewithsufficiently the person who takesownelder, in this regard, herexperienceevencompared withevery monthbyRebecca that twicehits.
她已经有将近二十年没有和足以作为自己长辈的人交流了,在这方面,她的经验甚至比不过每个月挨两次打的瑞贝卡。Butluckily, herheadis more intelligent than Rebecca, organized the languageaftershortstunned: „...... Iunderstand,youandKingdomfoundersbuildthisstatetonot to letuskill one another, thiscivil warwill certainly makeyouhate bitterly, however the aspecthas developedthis, the wardoes not wantto stopcanstop- wecannotsubmissively the countrygivePrince that murders the fatherto usurp the throneandabandon the pledgeKingdomGrand Duke, Eastern Regionwill not compromiseeasily. Therefore the civil warwill also continue, but the Ainzstrengtheven morewill be feeblein the warprocess, simultaneouslyall of usKnowTyphonis waitinginside, is waiting for the Ainzstream of peoplecleanlastdrop of blood.”
但幸好,她的脑袋比瑞贝卡聪明,在短暂的错愕之后就重新组织好了语言:“……我明白,您和王国的缔造者们打造这个国度不是为了让我们自相残杀,这场内战一定会令您痛心疾首,然而局面已经发展到这样,战争不是想停就能停的-我们不能拱手把国家让给一个弑父篡位的王子和背弃誓约的王国大公,想必东境也不会这么容易地妥协。所以内战还会持续下去,而安苏的力量将在战争过程中愈发衰弱,同时我们所有人都知道-提丰就在旁边等着,等着安苏人流干净最后一滴血。”Eye of Gawainlooks atVictoria: „Verygood, youat least can also haveTyphonconscioustoside, thattoquicklyendthiswar-, andtoconform to the way that youexpectedto end the war, whatsolution did youtry to find?”高文看着维多利亚的眼睛:“很好,你们至少还能意识到旁边有个提丰,那么为了尽快结束这场战争-并且以符合你们期望的方式结束战争,你们想了个什么办法?”
The Victoriahesitationmoment, said the Gawainexpectedwordslater: „The Kingpositioncannotcontinue the vacancyto get down.”维多利亚沉吟片刻,随后说出了高文意料之中的话:“国王的位置不能继续空缺下去。”Gawainadjusted a sitting posture, backward by sofaseat back cushion: „Wales Mowen?”高文调整了一下坐姿,向后靠在沙发靠背上:“威尔士?摩恩?”„...... Francisyour majestyonceassignedEdmundto besuccessor, andset up the oathbefore the ancestor, butthispledgehas toabandonnowobviously. AinzneedsKing, needsto become a whole, Your HighnessWalesis the onlycandidateat present,”Victoria, herlooks atGawain'seachexpressionchanged , to continue to sayslowly,„wewantto supportWales Mowenare the newkings, thisisNorthern RegionandWestern Regionprotects the Dukecommonwish.”
“……弗朗西斯陛下曾指定埃德蒙为继承人,并在先祖面前立了誓,但现在这个誓言显然不得不废弃了。安苏需要一个国王,需要重新成为一个整体,威尔士殿下是目前唯一的人选,”维多利亚顿了一下,她看着高文的每一丝表情变化,继续慢慢说道,“我们希望拥立威尔士?摩恩为新王,这是北境和西境守护公爵共同的意愿。”Shepays attention to the Gawain'sexpressionto change, however the Gawain'sexpressionis unrelieved, thisFounding Dukeis maintainingthatlightsmile, is listeninglike the outsider, untilshesaid that for a long timehas not expressed the opinionvery much.
她关注着高文的表情变化,然而高文的表情毫无变化,这位开国公爵只是维持着那种淡淡的微笑,像个局外人一样听着,并且直到她说完很久都没有发表意见。Gawainmade the atmospheresolidifylike this entiretwominutes, laterbrokesuddenlysilent: „Victoria, is thatmithrilpledge in Coldwinter Castlegood?”高文就这样让气氛凝固了整整两分钟,之后才突然打破沉默:“维多利亚,凛冬堡中的那份秘银誓约还好么?”
The heart of Duchessstoppedonetuneinstantaneously, althoughon the facewas still maintaining the usualexpression, butnervous of hereyegroundhas not escaped the Gawain'seye.女公爵的心脏瞬间停掉了一个节拍,尽管脸上仍然维持着如常的表情,但她眼底的紧张没有逃过高文的眼睛。In the Gawainheartdoes not havefluctuation: Such ashethenexpectedlong before, oneselfasFounding Hero that is covering the halo, the Ainzaristocratsdid not mind that hangshimon the wall, writesin the book, carvesin the stone, evenforinshrine, buttheywill mindabsolutelythisFounding Herositsto the thronein-高文心中毫无波动:就如很早以前他便预料到的,自己作为一个笼罩着光环的开国英雄,安苏的贵族们不介意把他挂在墙上,写在书上,刻在石头上,甚至供在神坛上,但他们绝对会介意这个开国英雄坐到王位上-Becausetheirwallsubmits a written statement to the heroes on stoneto be false, inthronethatactuallyreal.
因为他们墙上书上石头上的英雄都可以是假的,王位上那个却是真的。Buthehopeless that 700years ago urgentagreementcould have whatusefrom the start, heraised, laterthencontinuesto saydownward: „Youthink that WalescanbequalifiedKing?”
但他压根也没指望过那份七百年前的紧急协议能派上什么用场,他只是提了一下,随后便继续向下说道:“你认为威尔士会是一个合格的国王么?”„Hismeeting,”in the Victoriaheart was still circling the content in thatmithrilpledge, sherepliedverydiscretely, „Your HighnessWales, although did that not make a great show of one's talentslikeEdmund, butheinherited the steadiness and honesty of his father, only thenKingcanafter the civil warendedsmoothed the Ainzscar, madethiscountryrecoveras soon as possible-, moreoverafterexperiencingwarwound, peoplewill also wantto welcometemperateKing, theywill supportYour HighnessWales.”
“他会的,”维多利亚心中仍然盘旋着那份秘银誓约上的内容,她回答得很谨慎,“威尔士殿下虽然不像埃德蒙那样锋芒毕露,但他继承了他父亲的稳重和正直,只有这样的国王才能在内战结束之后抚平安苏的伤痕,尽快让这个国家恢复元气-而且在经历过战争创伤之后,人们也会更希望迎来一个温和的国王,他们会支持威尔士殿下的。”„Butthisbeing insufficientmakesyouchangeamongsituationwithEastern Region- Iknow that yourideas, supportKing, obtainslegitimate, wins over the support of morearistocrat, making the peoplehave the courage, the ideais good, moreoverreallyhasa littleeffectprobably, butdon't forget, Eastern RegionalsohadCrown Prince that had the qualifications, moreoverin the pastabout20years, thatCrown Princewasenter deeply into people's heartsone, even ifyoumadeWalescoronateahead of time, Eastern Region can also set up a newMonarchimmediately, pulled back the situationbefore the condition.”
“但这并不足以让你们改变和东境之间的局势-我知道你们的想法,拥立一个国王,获得正统,争取更多贵族的支持,让人民鼓起勇气,想法不错,而且大概真有那么一点效果,但别忘了,东境同样有一个具备资格的王储,而且在过去将近二十年里,那位王储都是更深入人心的一个,哪怕你们提前让威尔士加冕了,东境也能立刻立一个新君,把局势拉回到之前的状态。”„But ifyou can also supportYour HighnessWales, then the legitimacy of newkingwill considerably strengthen, sides with the royal familyaristocrats and peoplewill be more,”Victoriacannot bearsay, „yourattitudetoclosingimportant......”
“但如果您也能支持威尔士殿下,那么新王的正统性将大大加强,倒向王室的贵族和民众会更多,”维多利亚忍不住说道,“您的态度至关重要……”„MakesmeopenlysupportCharlie? Does Mowensomeheirkillanotherheir?”Gawainknockedamongsmalltablestwosofas, „youshouldunderstand,inthiscivil warIameasilytake a standvery muchdifficultly.”
“让我公开支持查理?摩恩的某一个子嗣去杀死另外一个子嗣么?”高文敲了敲两张沙发中间的小桌,“你应该理解,这场内战中我是很难轻易表态的。”Victoriaknows,Gawainis notcannottake a stand, hedoes not want.维多利亚知道,高文不是不能表态,他只是不愿意。ThisFounding Dukeis the cautiousandradicalcoexistentperson, hispresentdiscretion , because hedoes not trustthe kingdom's army-, butheas if not trust the Eastern Regionrebel army.
这位开国公爵是个谨慎与激进共存的人,他现在的谨慎,是因为他根本不信任王国军-但他似乎也不信任东境叛军。Bestaspect that thishad estimatedinitially.
这已经是当初预计的最好的局面了。„Then you mean......” the Duchesslooks atGawain'seye, is probingasking.
“那么您的意思是……”女公爵看着高文的眼睛,试探着问道。„Ido not opposeWalesto coronate,”Gawainsaidunhurriedly, „, but to makemeacknowledge that heisKing, heat leastneedsto put outas the Kingmeritcomes.”
“我不反对威尔士加冕,”高文不慌不忙地说道,“但如果想让我承认他是国王,他至少要拿出作为国王的功绩来。”At this point, his slightlystop.
说到这里,他略一停顿。„But as forthatmithrilContractWilde inColdwinter Castlegirl, youcanreceivesafelyit, Ido not planto useit.”
“而至于凛冬堡里的那份秘银契约-维尔德家的姑娘,你可以安心地把它收起来了,我并不打算用它。”Untilthese wordscome out, Victoria Wildegenuinerelaxes.
直到这句话出来,维多利亚?维尔德才真真正正地松了口气。Gawain Cecilhas not supportedroyal familyorEastern Regioneither oneexplicitly, butat least, hedoes not have the plan, whenKing.高文?塞西尔并没有明确地支持王室或东境任何一方,但至少,他没打算当国王。As the matter stands, at leastAinzneed notfacinganothercivil war.
这样一来,起码安苏不用面对另外一场内战。Afterdetermining the Gawain'sattitude, the heart of thisDuchessalsostabilizes, butbeforeset offplan that thencompletes, shestartsto win over a biggersupportfromGawainhere: „Thankedyourunderstandingvery much-, but ifyoucangive a the kingdom's armybiggersupport, perhaps that thenthiscivil warendedcanearly. Such asyousaid that a moment ago, makesYour HighnessWalescoronatemerelycannotchange the Ainzcurrentsituationfundamentally, the bloodybalance of the kingdom's armyandEastern Region...... mustbe brokenis good.”
在确定了高文的态度之后,这位女公爵的心也就安定下来,而按照出发之前便做好的计划,她开始从高文这里争取更大的支持:“很感谢您的理解-但如果您能给予王国军更大的支持,那么这场内战结束的或许能更早一些。就如您刚才说的,仅仅让威尔士殿下加冕并不能从根本上改变安苏目前的局势,王国军和东境的血腥平衡……必须被打破才行。”„Ihad saida moment ago, Iamdid not opposemerely‚Walescoronated’,”Gawaininterrupted the Victoriawords, „Iwill not openly supporteither one of the civil war, moreoverto be honest, Southern Regionalsojustwent through a war, myarmyneedsto rest, mypeoplealsoneedto recuperate, wecould not withstand the consumption.”
“我刚才已经说过了,我仅仅是‘不反对威尔士加冕’,”高文打断了维多利亚的话,“我不会公开支持这场内战的任何一方,而且说实话,南境也刚刚经历了一场战争,我的军队需要休息,我的人民也需要休养,我们经不起消耗了。”Thisis the reason of being well-founded, Victoriacannot thinkplace that canrefute.
这是有理有据的理由,维多利亚想不到可以反驳的地方。Butinsilenta moment later, Gawainopened the mouthsuddenly: „Howeveras the Charliegood friend, Icannotlook on that hisKingdomdisintegrateslike this.”
但在沉默了片刻之后,高文突然又开口了:“然而作为查理的好友,我也不能坐视他的王国就这样分崩离析下去。”
The eye of Victoriapublicizedslightly: „Yourmeaningis......”维多利亚的眼睛微微张大了一些:“您的意思是……”„Iam willingto provide the help of other domain, besides the army,”Gawainsaidat a moderate pace, „for exampleweaponandarmor......”
“我愿意提供一些别的领域的帮助,除了军队之外的,”高文不紧不慢地说道,“比如武器和盔甲……”
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